Russian official: Armenia ready to join Customs Union in several months

October 25, 2013 - 15:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia seeks expedite the Customs Union accession procedure, having expressed readiness to complete the process within several months, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister said, according to RBC.

As Igor Shuvalov told journalists after the Minsk-hosted Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting, “Armenian President requested the leader of the CU member states to speed up ratification of the agreements.”

According to the official, a decision on forming a work group to draw a roadmap and assess the situation was passed upon Armenia’s accession to the CU. The work group will announce the results of its activity at the next Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Moscow.

As Shuvalov noted, the CU accession talks with Yerevan are completely different from similar negotiations with Kirghizstan which keeps disagreeing on key issues and complicating the process.

“Armenia, on the other hand agrees to ratify the agreements which have already been analyzed, with prior work launched a while ago. Yerevan said it’s ready to join the Union’s legal base and adhere to norms stipulated,” he said.

Also, he added, Armenia expressed readiness to bring its domestic legislation in compliance with the Customs Union demands.

A draft resolution on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union and unified economic zone was approved at the Minsk-hosted Eurasian Economic Council meeting.

Also submitted and confirmed were applications on Armenia’s participation in Eurasian integration and cooperation memorandum with Eurasian Economic Commission.

Armenia completed technical talks on a ‘deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political integration with the EU.

However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Mr. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural assistance to Armenia.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia’s intention as a U-turn in relations with the European Union. “Seems as if Armenia will break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with Russia instead,” he said.

Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia “has blocked its chances of signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join the Russia-led union.” “We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different tariff requirements,” he said.

However, Armenian leadership continues expression intention to expand ties with the EU, which won't contradict Armenia's CU membership.

"Armenia will take part in the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius and is ready to sign the Association Agreement," President Serzh Sargsyan said at the October 2 PACE session.

"No Armenia-EU document is being readied to be signed at a Vilnius summit," the spokesperson of the EU Commissioner Stefan Fule said. “We’re trying to find routes for further cooperation with Armenia, based on the existing achievements,” Peter Stano said.

Related links:

http://rbc.ru